Rejected by Moonlight, Claimed by Shadows.

Chapter 1

Janet's POV

I, Janet Shaw, had been regarded as the curse of the Shaw family ever since I failed to shift into my wolf after turning sixteen.

From that moment onward, I had become the target of relentless bullying in our pack.

But what hurt the most wasn't the taunts or ridicule, it was the way my own parents never truly saw me as a worthy daughter. While my younger sister, Tiana, was the pride of the family, I was nothing more than a disgrace.

But none of that mattered to me anymore since the day I found my mate when I turned eighteen.

For the past four years, my mate, Bart Walter, had been my anchor and my solace in a world that never wanted me. At the moment, I was on my way to his house.

Today was our anniversary and I was going to share the most precious news of all, that I was carrying his child.

That morning, when we spoke, Bart told me he would see me in the evening but I wanted to surprise him. The joy in my heart doubled when I found out I was pregnant.

And I couldn't wait to see his reaction too.

With excitement fluttering in my chest, I stepped into his house and climbed the stairs to his room. However, the moment I reached the entrance, my smile faltered.

A pair of red heels lay near the doorway.

Seeing that, unease settled in my chest and a foreboding weight pressed down on me as I moved further inside. Then, I heard the low, breathy moans that was coming from his bedroom.

My stomach twisted in dread as I approached the slightly ajar door. With my hands trembling, I pushed it open.

And in that instant, my entire world shattered.

"Harder, Bart! Go harder!" Tiana's familiar voice gasped.

Instantly, my breath was caught in my throat as I took in the sight before me. Bart, my mate, was tangled in bed with none other than my younger sister.

"You are sweet. I feel so good," Bart groaned with his hands gripping Tiana's waist as he moved against her.

Tiana let out a satisfied moan. "Tell me, does Janet make you feel this way?" she asked breathlessly.

"Not even close," Bart replied without hesitation. "She doesn't even know what pleasure is."

A cruel chuckle left Tiana's lips as she ran her nails down his back. "Then why are you still with her? You'll be the next Alpha soon, you will need a strong she-wolf by your side."

At that moment, the cake box I was carrying dropped from my hand and a loud thud echoed through the room.

Both Bart and Tiana's heads snapped toward the doorway where I was standing. My face was already pale and my eyes brimmed with tears. The contents of the cake box smeared across the floor.

Bart immediately pulled away from Tiana with a darkened expression. Tiana, however, remained unfazed as she lazily adjusted her clothes with a smirk tugging at her lips.

A painful silence stretched between us before I finally found my voice.

"Why?" I whispered with my voice trembling before it rose into a furious yell. "Why did you do this?"

My hands shook as I grabbed the nearest object, a flower vase. I hurled it at Bart but he dodged it effortlessly while his eyes flashed with irritation.

"What the f**k is wrong with you?" he bellowed.

I turned my glare to Tiana with my hands clenched into fists. "Did you not even feel an ounce of shame doing this to me?"

Tiana smirked and stepped beside Bart.

"Don't you dare speak to my mate like that," Bart snapped.

I recoiled as if I was struck.

His mate?

Did I hear him correctly?

A bitter laugh bubbled in my throat as I pressed a trembling hand to my chest. "Your mate? I'm your mate, Bart! You marked me!"

But Bart just stared at me with his emotionless face and silence that confirmed the worst.

Everything I had believed in, everything I had loved were all lies.

"Bart, we were supposed to get married next month. You even proposed to me." I held up the ring with my voice cracking this time. "Don't do this to me," I pleaded as I was desperate to cling to the last remnants of our bond.

"Stop it, Janet," Tiana sneered with her lips curled into a smirk. "Bart never loved you. In fact, no one ever did. You are a wolfless omega and an embarrassment to all of us. You are unwanted and undesired by everyone."

My breath hitched at the cruel words and its weight crushed my spirit.

"Bart will be declared as the Alpha of the White Moon Pack tomorrow. Do you really think he would choose you as his mate? He needs someone powerful by his side." Tiana flipped her hair back with pride and her eyes gleamed with triumph. "And that's me. I am Bart's chosen mate."

My fingers trembled as anger surged through me. Without thinking, I raised my hand to slap Tiana across the face for her cruelty. But before I could, a strong grip caught my wrist midair.

With a forceful shove, Bart sent me crashing to the floor.

A sharp pain shot through my body as I landed hard against the cold surface. Before I could recover, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked me up, forcing a painful scream out of my lips.

"How dare a filth like you raise a hand against Tiana?" he growled and tightened his grip on my hair. His eyes burned with fury but there was no trace of guilt in them.

My chest heaved and my vision blurred with unshed tears.

How did it come to this?

"She's right." His voice was like a death sentence. "Tiana is my chosen mate. She will be my Luna."

My heart shattered at his words. I had already known the truth but hearing it spoken aloud sent searing pain through my soul.

Tiana beamed at Bart's declaration and her smile stretched wide. Then, she spoke the words I dreaded the most.

"Reject her, Bart."

A chill ran down my spine and my breath came in short, uneven gasps as panic rose like a storm inside me.

"No," I whispered and shook my head. "Please, don't!"

But it was too late.

Bart's grip loosened as he straightened himself.

"I, Bart Walter, the next Alpha of the White Moon Pack, reject you, Janet Shaw, as my mate."

Tears spilled down my cheeks as my lips trembled. With a heavy heart, I forced the words past my throat and sealed my fate.

"I, Janet Shaw, accept your rejection, Bart Walter."

The moment the words left my lips, a searing pain tore through my body.

I screamed as the mark on my neck disappeared while clutching my chest as agony coursed through every nerve in my body. For a wolf, rejection was a near-death experience. But for me, who was already wolf-less and broken, it felt like my soul was being torn apart.

As I lay trembling on the cold floor, betrayed and discarded by the one I had given my heart to, I saw them laughing at my misery.

"You don't belong here, Janet." Bart spat with disgust. "Remember, you are a curse not just to the Shaw family but to the White Moon Pack as well. Did you really think a weakling like you could ever stand beside me? Never. So just disappear from my sight and leave this pack."

His brutal words cut through me like a dagger piercing my heart but those words also opened my eyes.

This pack had never accepted me. My own family loathed me and the man whom I thought was my mate, betrayed me, rejected me.

It was time to leave.

For my baby, I needed a better place that was filled with love and respect.

With the last bit of strength left in me, I forced myself on my feet. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and turned on my heel.

I walked away without another word as I was now determined to go as far as I could, from the place that had never been my home.

As I stepped out of the house, I heard a voice.

"Bart has ordered us to kill Janet!"